Insecurity: Remain in the North East until security improves, Defence Minister orders Buratai

Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali has mandated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai to remain in the North East until security situation in the region improves.

A statement from the minister’s Public Relations Officer, Col. Tukur Gusau on Monday saidthat Dan-Ali gave the order at a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs in his office.

The statement said the minister also directed that the General Officer Commanding 8 Division should relocate his Tactical Headquarters from Sokoto State to Zamfara, to oversee the conduct of Operation Sharan Daji.

Dan-Ali further ordered the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff to make changes in the operational commands of Operations Delta Safe in the Niger Delta, Lafia Dole in the North East, Sharan Daji in Zamfara and Katsina states and Awatse in the South West to enable them deal with the current threats and security challenges in their areas of responsibility.

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces has also directed the emergency procurement of critical equipment for the armed forces in line with the Federal Government policy of procuring equipment from Original Equipment Manufacturers through government to government basis,” he said.

Meanwhile, a News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, report said that Dan-Ali announced that the Army Council and Navy Board had considered and approved the promotion of qualified senior military officers to their next higher ranks.